A lord of misrule was a figure in medieval English Christmas celebrations responsible for organizing and overseeing festive entertainment. This role included managing events and presiding with a mock court.
A lord of misrule was an official appointed during medieval England's Christmas festivities to organize and preside over the entertainment. This role involved managing plays, processions, and feasts, often with a mock court, and the title is thought to originate from the 'Feast of Fools.'
| Back | lord of misrule \lord-uv-mis-ROOL\ |
|---|---|
| Front | noun A master of Christmas revels in England especially in the 15th and 16th centuries. [Late in the medieval days of England, the royal court, the houses of noblemen, and many colleges at the universities of Cambridge and Oxford appointed a manager for their Christmas festivities and dubbed him the "lord of misrule" or the "abbot of misrule." The lord of misrule was responsible for arranging all Christmas entertainment, including plays, processions, and feasts. The lord himself usually presided over these affairs with a mock court and received comic homage from the revelers. Scholars believe that the name "lord of misrule" was taken from the name of the official who presided over an older New Year's celebration called the "Feast of Fools."] |
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Word pastiche concurring literary french pasticcio opinion pass-teesh
Previous card: Eristic adjective characterized noun arguments art means word
Up to card list: Hard English Vocabulary